The Great Gatsby - another round of twenties mania? Debenhams white suit.

Monday, 29 April 2013

The older you are, the more often things repeat themselves. Plus ça change plus c'est la même chose.

This year has seen the opening of the wonderful Pompeii exhibition at the British Museum. I recall, as a student, queuing to see the first Pompeii exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts in London in 1976. The 16th May sees the release of another film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel, The Great Gatsby. In 1974 I was, like so many others, inspired and influenced by the earlier film version starring Robert Redford and Mia Farrow.

After the 1974 release, the world went mad for 1920s style clothes and accessories. White suits (with broad lapels and flares), co-respondent shoes, trilbies and straw hats. There's every sign that it's happening again this time round. I'll follow some of these developments over the next few weeks, but let's start with this wonderful Jeff Banks three-piece suit in dove white from Debenhams.

I'd love a white suit - but just stay clear of ketchup, children, washing up, bicycles, DIY, red wine and public transport.

3 comments

GPH29 April 2013 at 08:22
For the '74 film, suits were by Ralph Lauren- slim fitting pastel shades all over the place, which suited the slightly washed-out soft focus dreamy colour camerawork. Suits were also highly structured with lots of sharp lines, exaggerating early 70s fashion. This time round I understand its Miuccia Prada- I expect the colour palette to be different for modern cameras and the shapes to be more inspired by modern Italian design mixed in the the director's operatic "FILL The screen!!" sense. I would still like a return for the straw boater though.
fred gonsowski29 April 2013 at 18:07
Hi there Grey Fox,

For years we belonged to the Preservation Society of Newport County and attended many of their balls, and one of then was at Rose Cliff, where the original Gatsby movie was shot. The Rose Cliff, and Newport, Rhode Island are American treasures showing the best of east coast Gilded Age (1890's to WW1) living.

I some how don't thing the Baz Luhrmann adaptation will be that great, because it looks like the Wizard of Oz meets Moulin Rouge. But, maybe a younger demographic might be attracted to this film, where as the 1974 one was probably more authentic for interiors and exteriors.
Well Dressed Dad Blog29 April 2013 at 23:52
I had a similar feeling recently while watching the remake of Hitchcocks "The lady vanishes". At the start, where all the young people of leisure are, well, enjoying their leisure, I developed a real urge for linen suits and Pimms. Croquet anyone? Strange how the old days seem so alluring.